Unity's Adelphoi Village to mark 40 years

When the Rev. Paschal Morlino founded a group home for boys on Mission Road in Unity, he wanted to aid young people in Westmoreland County.

"That's all I wanted to do was help these kids who were in trouble," he said. "When I first started, I saw the need and thought it was something I could do."

Forty years have passed since Morlino, then a Benedictine monk at St. Vincent, founded that home, which over the years has grown into Adelphoi USA.

The five agencies that make up the organization include a charter school, a philanthropic foundation, programs in 30 Pennsylvania counties and Adelphoi Village, the 8-acre campus outside Latrobe that provides care and treatment to more than 2,500 at-risk youth each year.

President and CEO Blair Kucinski said the mission begun by Morlino -- to reach out to youth -- remains the same.

"They really don't see hope for the future, they have a feeling of hopelessness. We try to offer kids that hope, so they can overcome what might seem like major obstacles to them and allow them to succeed in the future," Kucinski said.

The organization will celebrate its 40th anniversary Aug. 18, including the unveiling of a "Legacy Wall," created to represent the last four decades, and Founder's Day on Aug. 19, featuring activities and alumni speakers.

In 1971, when Morlino founded the home, the concept of rehabilitating children, especially in a home-like setting, was just gaining ground, said Dirk Matson, assistant to the CEO for public policy and development.

Children were often sent to adult prisons, he said.

"Back in those days, there really wasn't anywhere for the kids to be, the type of kids we wanted to work with," Matson said.

Adelphoi comes from the Greek translation of the Bible in which Jesus used the word to mean "my brothers for whom I am concerned."

Morlino made arrangements with Westmoreland County courts to provide the home as a treatment option. The first child was sent there on May 2, 1972.

Morlino said he planned to offer a nurturing environment.

"It was something totally new," he said. "Each place we had was a home, like you would have in your own home, to give them a good home life."

At first the home relied heavily on donations and volunteer work, but after forming a board in 1974, more public money was available as a shift in treatment began in the mid-1970s.

Community support still plays an important role in Adelphoi's success, Matson said.

Since most of the facilities are in residential areas, "if it wasn't for the lady next door accepting us, or the couple across the street, we couldn't be there," he said.

Expansion to more homes began in 1976, just before Morlino was transferred to New Jersey.

"It really started to grow because the need was so great," he said.

Since then, Adelphoi has begun foster family, scholarship, mental health treatment, residential and educational programs.

Kucinski said the programs have become more comprehensive over the years. "We just kind of grew in all different directions by observing the needs of kids at that time in history," he said.

Dina Marrero believed her daughter, Cara, needed help three years ago, when Cara was a junior in high school.

Marrero said her daughter was bullied at school and, as a result, lost focus and confidence in herself.

"When things aren't going the way you want everything to be, it's scary for a parent," she said. "She just needed a direction."

During Cara's senior year, she enrolled in Adelphoi's charter school and flourished in a smaller class with one-on-one attention, Dina Marrero said.

"She felt good about herself there. They made her feel important," she said.

Now, at age 20, Cara is a junior at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland studying business.

"It was really just about me pushing myself and getting my act together," Cara Marrero said. "I'm now a young woman, as opposed to an immature girl, as I was when I entered the school."

Cara, who will be speaking at the Founder's Day celebration, said she is glad Adelphoi recognizes its impact.

"I think it's definitely worthwhile to celebrate it because they pretty much show the world that kids can get a second chance and succeed," she said.

Karyn Pratt, director of development at Adelphoi, said the programs have evolved to provide children with goals and push them toward making a permanent change, rather than simply providing punishment.

"We were finding kids coming into the program, they flourished and they left and went right back into the situation that brought them here," she said.

Now, Adelphoi provides after-care services and has given more than $250,000 in scholarships to encourage children to pursue higher education.

Kucinski said in the future, Adelphoi hopes to help expand mental health services in public schools, work to prevent truancy and provide permanent adoption services.

"Our industry changes as we learn more about how to treat kids," he said. "They come to us wounded and injured and the first step is getting them to believe they can get better and that we can help them."

Adelphoi USA: A 40-year history

1971 -- The Rev. Paschal Morlino begins planning a home for boys.

1972 -- The first boy is referred to the home by the courts.

1976 -- The home becomes Adelphoi Village; additional homes begin opening.

1979 -- A fire destroys the original house.

1981 -- The first home for girls opens in Unity.

1991 -- Adelphoi Village Private School opens.

1996 -- Recreation center opens on Latrobe campus.

1998 -- Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School opens.